2012 Toyota PRIUS PLUG-IN HYBRID problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
25 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
89,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2012 model year. Data snapshot: . 16 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Service Brakes is the most frequently named component, appearing in 10 of 25 complaints (40.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 16 | 64.0% |
| Transmission and shifting | 3 | 12.0% |
| Engine operation | 2 | 8.0% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 1 | 4.0% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Service Brakes | 10 |
| Unknown Or Other | 4 |
| Electrical System | 3 |
| Engine | 2 |
| Power Train | 2 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 2 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 2 |
| Electronic Stability Control (Esc) | 1 |
Service Brakes: 10; Unknown Or Other: 4; Electrical System: 3; Engine: 2; Power Train: 2; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 2; Vehicle Speed Control: 2; Electronic Stability Control (Esc): 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 2 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 4 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 4 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 5 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 2; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 4; 75,000 to 99,999: 4; 100,000 to 149,999: 5; 150,000 and above: 1
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (5). 9 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2017 | 3 |
| 2018 | 5 |
| 2019 | 3 |
| 2020 | 2 |
| 2021 | 1 |
| 2022 | 2 |
| 2023 | 4 |
| 2024 | 4 |
2016: 1; 2017: 3; 2018: 5; 2019: 3; 2020: 2; 2021: 1; 2022: 2; 2023: 4; 2024: 4
Pattern summary
Service Brakes leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 16 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 3 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 2 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 11055000 · 2017-12-15 (December 15, 2017)
WHEN OPERATING THE VEHICLE ON A SNOW COVERED ROAD, I ATTEMPTED TO STOP WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 35 MPH. WHEN I PRESSED MY BRAKE PEDAL DOWN AS I WAS APPROACHING THE INTERSECTION, THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES DID NOT FUNCTION. THE PEDAL PRESS WAS FIRM, BUT THERE WAS NOISE THAT IS TYPICALLY EXPERIENCED WHEN ANTI-LOCK BRAKES ARE IN USE, AND IT FELT LIKE THERE WAS INITIAL BRAKING WITH MY APPLICATION OF THE BRAKES, BUT WHEN THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES SHOULD HAVE KICKED IN, IT FELT LIKE THE CAR SURGED AHEAD AND THE BRAKING MOSTLY STOPPED, EVEN THOUGH …
Owner-reported narrative. 59,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11055000 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11065786 · 2018-01-30 (January 30, 2018)
WHEN THE DRIVER DOOR IS OPEN, FULL POWER IS ON, BRAKE PEDDLE RELEASED THE CAR WILL STILL MOVE FORWARD. THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY. THEN STARTED IN MOTION I STARTED TO GET OUT OF CAR BUT STOPPED IT
Owner-reported narrative. 88,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11065786 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11235273 · 2019-07-27 (July 27, 2019)
AUTO STOPPED. ENGINE RUNNING. BRAKE PEDAL PRESSED. TRANSMISSION IN DRIVE. WHEN OPENING DRIVER DOOR AND RELEASING BRAKE PEDAL, CAR MOVES FORWARD. VIN INCLUDED IN ATTACHED FILE.
Owner-reported narrative. 125,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11235273 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11319211 · 2020-03-25 (March 25, 2020)
WHILE STOPPED IN A PARKING LOT, FOOT BRAKE PRESSED,TRANSMISSION IN DRIVE, WHEN OPENING DRIVERS DOOR AND FOOT BRAKE RELEASED CAR STILL MOVES FORWARD. IT SHOULD GO INTO PARK AUTOMATIC BUT DOES NOT.
Owner-reported narrative. 90,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11319211 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10957492 · 2017-02-28 (February 28, 2017)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 TOYOTA PRIUS PLUG-IN HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER AND THE VEHICLE STALLED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO REPLICATE AND DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE CONTACT WAS UNCERTAIN IF THE VEHICLE WOULD BE REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 60,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10957492 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11114443 · 2018-07-29 (July 29, 2018)
NOTHING HAPPENED YET, BUT I AM CONCERNED ABOUT NUMEROUS REPORTS OF THE INVERTER FAILING AND CAUSING SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER. I UNDERSTAND THIS IS STILL HAPPENING DESPITE AFFECTED CARS HAVING RECEIVED A SOFTWARE UPDATE TO "PREVENT" THE ISSUE. DURING AN EMERGENCY, REGENERATIVE SYSTEMS PREVENT THESE CARS FROM SWIFTLY COASTING OUT OF THE TRAVEL LANE AS OTHER CARS WOULD DO. INSTEAD, THE CAR WILL ACT LIKE THE BRAKES HAVE BEEN SLAMMED ON, CAUSING A SERIOUS HAZARD. I READ ABOUT THIS HERE HTTPS://TOYOTATALK.COM/TOYOTA-PRIUS-HYBRID-INVERTER/
Owner-reported narrative. 54,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11114443 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10937368 · 2016-12-25 (December 25, 2016)
CAR WAS PARKED AND THE CHARGE CORD CONNECTED. IT HAD ABOUT 2.9 MILES LEFT ON BATTERY POWER, BY THAT CALCULATION IT SHOULD BEEN CHARGED BY 1100P. AT 1230P CAR WAS FULLY ENGULFED IN FIRE. FIRE DEPT IS INVESTIGATING FOR ARSON, BUT MY NEIGHBORS CAMERA CAUGHT IT ALL (I HAVEN'T SEEN IT) IT SEEMS THE CAR JUST START ON FIRE BY ITSELF, INSURANCE IS STILL INVESTIGATING, BUT I'M ALMOST POSITIVE THAT THIS FIRE STARTED ON ITS ON. IT WOULD BE GREAT IF YOU GUYS COULD FOLLOW UP. MY HOUSE ALSO CAUGHT ON FIRE. HAD I NOT BEEN JOLTED UP AND TRIED TO SAVE MY HOUSE …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10937368 at NHTSA ↗